Striking workers to return to jobs at Westport Health Care, other nursing homes

Published 2:21 pm, Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Workers at the Westport Health Care Center and four other nursing homes in the state operated by New Jersey-based HealthBridge Management will return to work March 3 after a months-long strike, even though they still don't have a contract.

"People are thrilled," said union spokeswoman Deborah Chernoff. "They have been away from their jobs and their residents for eight months. It has been incredibly difficult and stressful."

Late last year, U.S. District Court Judge Robert N. Chatigny granted an injunction to restore the caregivers to their prior positions and halt HealthBridge's implementation of the contract. However, no date was set for their return and HealthBridge made several attempts to appeal the decision.

The company's requests for an emergency stay were first denied by Chatigny, then by a three-judge panel convened by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York, and finally by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The eight-month strike was part of a long battle between the union and HealthBridge. Previous to the walkout, HealthBridge locked out employees of West River for 14 weeks.

After the strike started, the company accused workers of acts of sabotage at the Danbury, Newington and Long Ridge sites.

Chernoff said the battle between the union and HealthBridge likely won't end once the employees return to work, as a new contract still has to be negotiated.